REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA MAS PHATHISANE ISSUE 2 2018 Eastern Cape Province 5th Administration Service Delivery Report Free Copy

New Mobile clinics Nelson Mandela beds supplied to bringing health Academic Hospital health facilities services to far- produces top health flung areas practioners

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CECILIA MAKIWANE HOSPITAL, A SYMBOL OF PROMOTING BETTER HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle, former Health MEC Pumza Dyantyi and Dr Thobile Mbengashe, head of the Eastern Cape health department.

nvesting in community health care infrastructure is part of the Eastern Cape As a centre for promoting better healthcare for all in the Eastern Cape, the IProvince strategy to provide the right care, at the right time and in the right place. hospital allows the Eastern Cape Province to expand government’s e-health To meet the growing demand for healthcare and long-term care in the strategy by providing advanced clinical support to rural areas. coming years, the provincial government continues to finance The flagship Cecilia Makiwane is just one example of the investments in new and updated facilities, equipment and skills. To meet the growing demand government’s commitment to invest in health infrastructure, The revamped state of the art Cecilia Makiwane hospital at for healthcare and long-term technology and innovation to contribute significantly to improve a cost of R988 million, has become the symbol of promoting health outcomes for the people of the province. better healthcare for all Eastern Cape residents and an example care in the coming years, the The following are key infrastructure achievements and high where the 40 424 health care employees in 89 public impact projects that have been completed by the Infrastructure and 772 public clinics do all they can to heal the sick and provincial government continues Unit: comfort the wounded. to finance investments in • Upgrading of St Patrick’s District Hospital at a cost of R341 The hospital, whose 526- bed hospital is supported by an new and updated facilities, million; integrated system optimising efficiencies in the delivery of • Upgrading of at a cost of R244 million; quality health care, exploits technological innovation which cut equipment and skills. Repairs and renovations to Bambisana and Zithulele down patient waiting times, improve diagnosis, and improve • Hospitals in OR Tambo health outcomes. Procurement of Medical Equipment for Ideal Clinics Cecilia Makiwane provides support to districts and maternity units through • telemedicine and outreach programmes by specialist teams. • Procurement of Medical Equipment for hospitals focusing on the following ► clinical areas: Accident and Emergency, Out Patient Department, Maternity (for Neonate Intensive Care Unit and High Care), Theatres, X- Ray Department, Surgical Instruments, Diagnostic Sets and Medical Furniture. Facilities with high maternal deaths and life support requirements have received the required equipment such as Ultrasounds Units, Cardiotocography machines and infant warmers. These facilities are Butterworth; Madwaleni; Mthatha Regional; St Eliz- abeth; St Patricks; All Saints; Wilhem Stahl; Aliwal North; Grey; , Frontier Regional Hospital and St Patricks District Hospital. X-ray machines have been installed at Middledrift, Nontyatyambo and Cala Community Health Centres; Mthatha Regional, Butterworth, St Patricks and Grey hospitals. To improve services and clinical outcomes in our high priority areas, there has also been improvements of maternity and labour wards; neonatal ICUs and nursery; theatres and recovery bays; emergency units and resuscitation rooms; and outpatient departments. Investing in people’s health as human capital and promoting equitable access to healthcare contribute to strengthening social cohesion, which is a priority for the Eastern Cape provincial government. ■ Right image: President Ramaphosa, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Premier Masualle inspecting CHM state of the art machine.

HEALTH PROGRAMMES PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

OF THE 5-YEAR PERIOD 2013/14 TO 2017/18 Indicator name 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 HIV and AIDS / STI / TB (HAST) TB treatment success 78,30% 81,80% 83,70% 84,80% 86%

TB death rate 6,70% 5,50% 5,20% 5,30% 4,40%

HIV test done 1 094 700 1 296 397 1 696 368 1 932 800 1 726 702 Total clients remaining on ART at the end of 288 483 320 060 361 166 394 410 452 072 the month PREVENTION OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION Antenatal 1st visit 43,30% 48,10% 59,70% 63,80% 65% before 20 weeks rate Antenatal client start 79% 91,70% 93,90% 93,30% 86,60% on ART rate

Infant PCR test positive around 10 2% 1,70% 1,70% 1,60% 1,20% weeks rate

MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION Neonatal death in 16.6/1000 18.2/1000 15.8/1000 13.2/1000 13.8/1000 facility rate Maternal mortality in 148.3/100 135.2/100 135/100 128/100 148/100 000 facility 00 000 000 000 PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES Percentage of order fulfilment of essential 86% 78% 84% 84% 84% drugs at the depots HUMAN RESOURCE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT Number of 1st year nurses awarded 350 350 350 351 350 bursaries

2 MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 2 - HEALTH SERVICES

United in achieving quality health care for all

Fraud prevention line: 0800 701 701 24 hour Call Centre: 0800 032 364 Website: www.ecdoh.gov.za

DID YOU KNOW? • The Eastern Cape Health Department offers pregnancy testing to all women of child bearing age who visit health care facilities. This has resulted in an increase in the percentage of ante-natal first visits before 20 weeks of pregnancy. • The provincial measure of disease and deaths averted shows that the province has achieved a substantial reduction in deaths related to diarrhoea cases in children under five years of age which reduced to 3.4%, from 3.6% in 2015 and 2016. This means there were 147 less children dying from diarrhoea than the previous year baseline; • Through the Department of Health strategies, children under five years pneumonia case fatality rate also went down from 3.7% at end of 2015/16 to 2.7% by mid-year of 2016/17; • The extensive Human Papilloma Virus vaccination campaign undertaken during 2016/17 contributed in decreasing the number of young girls susceptible to cervical cancer. At the end of 2015/16 year, 99.4% of the targeted 80 643 eligible school girls were vaccinated. Cervical cancer screening coverage reached the 60%. • Through the Integrated School Health Programme the health department managed to provide health screening services to 103 824 learners across the Province. These include Nutritional assessment; Physical assessment; Vision; Oral health; Hearing; Chronic illness; TB screen; Speech; Psychosocial support; and mental health; • The health department has managed to deworm 27 112 learners; identified and managed 1 092 cases of malnutrition and under-nutrition; 1 557 cases of obesity and also immunized 26 441 learners; • The department has provided referral services for 14 527 children with various ailments such as suspected TB; speech problems; hearing; oral and eye health; • Long waiting times for Orthopaedic Operations at Bedford Orthopaedic Hospital have been drastically reduced as a result of the provision of specialists Newly delivered beds help Eastern Cape patients to receive healthcare services with ease. and procurement of more theatre equipment. waiting period has reduced from an average of three months in September 2016 to less than one month in January 2017. • The Spinal Services at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital have been boosted through a supportive collaboration with the Head of Orthopaedics at the University of Pretoria. This collaboration ensures that this rare service is strengthened for the benefit of the people of this province; • The department of health trained and recruited seven super specialist for Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital: Anaesthetist and Intensivist, Physician and Rheumatologist, Physician and Cardiologist, Paediatrician and Neonatologist, Ear Nose & Throat Specialist, Orthopaedic Specialist and Paediatrician and Infectious Disease specialist; • The health department now has qualified Gynaecology Oncologist who is stationed at Dora Nginza Regional Hospital and a qualified Radiation Oncologist both of which are working hard to boost our fight against cancer. • The department has already achieved its annual targets for HIV testing services and condom distribution, and further managed to reduce the HIV/Aids prevalence rate for people between 15 and 49 years of age from 10.4% in 20 14 to 7.7% by 2016 and • The department ensures drug availability and effective management of drug stock outs, the department is strengthening use of the Stock Visibility System which was rolled out to all Primary Health Care facilities and hospitals. • The health department has procured and distributed eighty five (85) mobile clinics to access “hard-to-reach “areas across the province; • Five hundred and fifty eight (558) Ward-Based Primary Health Care (PHC) and Integrated School Health Programme Teams have been established to improve health access at households and quintile one and two schools; • Through the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination (HPV) campaign, the department has vaccinated 395 924, Grade 4 girl learners to prevent cancer of the cervix, over the MTSF period; • As part of the integrated school health programme, the department has reached 220 390 learners of which 152 193 are Grade 1 learners and 68 197 Eye tests for residents available free of charge. Grade 8 learners in order to identify health problems that impede learning and refer identified learners for further treatment and care. ■

Mobile clinics taking health services to the people. Doctors in training to provide health care to all. MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 2 - HEALTH SERVICES 3 PROMOTING BETTER HEALTHCARE FOR ALL IN THE EASTERN CAPE

Eastern Cape health department uses mobile clinics to take health care to the people.

he Eastern Cape provincial government continuously review its strategies results. Tto yield sustainable long-term health benefits for all citizens of the province. • NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE Premier Phumulo Masualle talks about how the government focuses its delivery of In laying the basis for the effective implementation of the National Health services through three priority areas as key drivers; curbing the burden of disease, Insurance in the Province, we are making steady progress. improving the quality of health care and universal health coverage. • HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE Major investments have also been made in health infrastructure. We QUESTION (Q): Your administration has often stated that its priority was successfully completed all four health facilities that were planned, including Cecilia promoting better healthcare for all our people by addressing the social Makiwane hospital and St Elizabeth Resource Centre. Refurbishment works were determinants of health and improving health outcomes and quality of life of our also completed in more than 80 clinics across the province. people. What have been some of your achievements? Answer (A): Here some of our achievements: : Let’s go into specifics: HIV/AIDS, HIV and tuberculosis’s opportunistic • LIFE EXPECTANCY Q infection are some of the most pressing health problems in the province. How is The Eastern Cape average life expectancy at birth has shown an increase from our administration tackling this problem? 46, 7 for males, and 50, 2 for females to an estimated 53, 2 for males and 59, 0 for The province has intensified its approach to strengthening preventive health females. A: services including health promotion initiatives to reduce the high burden of disease • INFANT MORTALITY especially HIV/AIDS and TB infection, as well as to reduce and manage the impact The average infant mortality rate has decreased from 38, 9 per 1000 live births of the disease on those infected and affected. to 34,4 per 1000 live birth while the under-five mortality rate decreased from 53,8 For women, we continue to offer pregnancy testing to all women of child bearing per 1000 live birth to 44,1 per 1000 live birth. age who visited health care facilities. This helps midwives and doctors to pick • KEY PROGRAMMES early conditions that could cause risk to the pregnancy, provide counselling and In relation to the quadruple burden of disease - - maternal, new-born and testing to pregnant mothers to detect HIV infection and provide timely treatment to child health; HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB); non-communicable diseases; and prevent mother to child transmission. violence and injury – - which affects our province, the department prioritised key We have also increased efforts to prevent non-communicable diseases by programmes including prevention and treatment of TB and HIV/Aids; provision of screening people and initiating treatment to those with diagnosis. To date, Emergency Medical Services (EMS); strengthening Primary Health Care; provision over 1.7 million and 1.5 million people have been screened for hypertension and of health infrastructure; implementation of Chronic Care Direct Delivery, diabetes respectively. Through the Integrated School Health Programme the to mention just a few. department managed to provide health screening services to 103 824 learners • HIV/AIDS PREVENTION AND TREATMENT across the province. Our tireless efforts in fighting HIV/AIDS by implementing prevention and As at September 2017, we had tested 876 959 clients against a mid-year target treatment initiatives are bearing fruits. Through collaborations with the AIDS of 602 058. Our intention is to test more by the end of our term. Our intensified Council, NGOs and various other stakeholders, several testing campaigns were strategies on antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) distribution; targeting key populations; conducted in the past year. pregnant mothers as well as our partner- ships and collaboration with other sectors such universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Similarly, the expansion of HIV/AIDS and TB treatment is also showing positive colleges have significantly attributed to this success. We are continuing to

4 MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 2 - HEALTH SERVICES test clients for HIV/AIDS as part of our 90-90-90 strategy. We have increased the claims were settled. Now the department has been implementing a multi-pronged number of patients remaining on ART from 320 062 in 2014 to more than 430,000 approach to fight medico-legal claims, which included appointing more personnel to date. in hospitals where women and babies were treated. We have a good TB management programme, but we are seeing an escalation of cases. Of particular concern is the emergence of multi-drug resistant DIGITISATION OF RECORDS tuberculosis strains. The national TB Awareness Campaign is just one way of How are you doing with the digitisation of health facilities and records across addressing the problem. Q: the province? We know that when we work toward combating TB, we invariably also work We are exploring digitisation of clinical records especially patient records toward combating HIV. A: to improve management of records and enhance efficiencies. The Department of The truth is has it not been for the huge number of community health care Health is buy migrating to an electronic records management system workers in this country, including the people who do voluntary counselling, as well as other primary health care workers, we would not be able to make progress in fighting HIV/AIDS or TB. They are doing exceptional work. INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY Credit should also go to former Health Member of Executive Council (MEC) Dr Q: How are you doing with infrastructure delivery? Pumza Dyantyi for her sterling leadership before taking her new role as Social A: Infrastructure delivery continue to receive priority. The province is focus on Development MEC. Now new Health MEC, Helen Sauls-August is continuing the areas which will yield improved clinical outcomes in the most cost effective legacy that Dr Dyantyi and her predecessors started. manner as follows: Renovations of Clinics and Community Health Centres; Renovations of Q: How do you address malnutrition in the poverty stricken province such as the district hospitals; fencing and guard houses; Rehabilitation of mortuaries Eastern Cape? and Forensic Pathology Services Units; Procurement and maintenance of medical equipment; upgrade of water treatment plants and sewerage system; A: Malnutrition is one of the major health problems facing us. If we improve the Emergency Building Repairs; Electricity and water connection; Electrical and nutrition of children and pregnant women and young mothers, we will go some mechanical plant and machinery upgrade; Lift maintenance and upgrade; way in addressing the millennium development goals of reducing child mortality and increasing maternal health. Repairs and renovations of accommodation units for health professionals; Eradication of mud and inappropriate structures and renovations and Especially at risk are young children and young HIV-positive mothers who are maintenance of the Emergency Medical Services Bases; maintenance of immuno-compromised. Our province needs good nutrition to decrease the burden health facilities plant, equipment and machinery; and capacitation of the of HIV. Infrastructure Unit. Maize and bread are the most frequently consumed foods in the country. Government is already adding nutrients to these products as a way of delivering micronutrients to people who do not have an adequate diet. Good nutrition Q: The provision of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has always been a coupled with ARVs go a long way in fighting TB and HIV/AIDS. huge challenge, with shortage of ambulances and related vehicles? How have you addressed the shortage of emergency vehicles? A: Emergency Medical Services by its nature will always remain a priority Q: How are you reducing child and maternal mortality? for the department. In the past two financial years the department has made A: The National Department of Health has approved a new policy which significant investments in additional EMS vehicles and personnel. For example, has seen an increase in the number of clinic visits by pregnant women. This is 141, 4x4 ambulances have been delivered across all regions. another way of intervening to reduce maternal mortalities, especially as a result of Nine Ambulance Buses were introduced which have a six stretcher and 25 hypertensive disease. seated carrying capability for transportation of patients. These buses have brought much needed relief to our patient transportation system, thus making ambulances NHI more available for other emergency calls. Each district has been allocated one Q: How is the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) going? bus, except for Sarah Baartman District which received two buses due its vastness. A: We are increasing universal access to health care through implementation of the NHI readiness programme in the pilot districts. We are making good progress in preparing health facilities to be ideal clinics through the Ideal Clinic Realisation Q: You stress the importance of health care workers, yet there is a shortage of and Maintenance programme. health care workers. How are you addressing this problem? A: To address the shortage of health-care works, we have put aside R14.4- We are focusing on the Re-engineering of Primary Health Care which is billion to recruit medical specialists and general workers to fill vacancies in over a fundamental component of the NHI programme. The key service delivery 300 public health facilities across the province. We are on track to recruit critical elements t includes strengthening District Clinical Specialist Teams; Ward- skills in areas such as midwifery, gynaecology, and rheumatology. From that based Outreach Teams (WBOTs); Integrated School Health Policy, contracting budget about R156 million has been set aside to employ more doctors, nurses and of General Practitioners (GPs); Integrated School Health Programme; as well general workers at health facilities. as the Centralized Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution which has now Also, we continues to offer bursaries and made good progress in the training of been rolled out to all districts. The number of WBOTs will be increased in order to junior extend coverage of households visited. doctors. We recognise that as with education and teachers, it is the training of healthcare professionals that is the engine of the healthcare system. As such, SHORTAGE OF DRUGS the government has supported over 2,000 medical students with bursaries, and over 3,000 student nurses, post-basic nurses, midwifery nurses and technicians There is often a shortage of drugs. How are you addressing this problem? Q: graduated across the province. A: To ensure drug availability and effective management of drug stock outs, the department has strengthened the use of the Stock Visibility System which has been rolled out to all Primary Health Care facilities and hospitals. ON COURSE Promoting better healthcare for all our people is a significant indicator of the quality of life, which we have a sworn duty to improve. In the Freedom Charter, the How are dealing with matter of medico-legal claims for alleged negligence? Q: ANC undertook to create a society in which “A preventative health scheme shall A: We have appointed consortium of lawyers who have managed to save be run by the state” and in which “Free medical care and hospitalization shall be the Eastern Cape Health Department R75 million in 2017. At the time of their provided for all, with special care for mothers and young children.” appointment, the department had had to pay out R600m in damages over a We are well on course to realise these lofty objectives set by our forebears seven-year period. The state attorney had only managed to win four out of 155 many years ago. ■ medico-legal claims brought against the department since 2014. The rest of the

Premier Masualle occassionally visited healthcare centres across the province. Dental clinic goes to the people. MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 2 - HEALTH SERVICES 5 THEMBISA CLINIC IN BURGERSDORP GIVES HOPE TO RESIDENTS ituated in Thembisa Location One of the residents in Thembisa Sin Burgersdorp, the clinic has Location, Siphokazi Fekisi alluded that managed to conquer through its all they are satisfied with the services they challenges. Serving a community of receive from the clinic staff members. more than 10 000 residents, Thembisa “There is no shortage of medication Clinic is there to make sure that all at the clinic and the staff is always residents receive the medical attention willing to help”, said Ms Fekisi. that they deserve. Residents in this Going forward, the clinic’s aim is to community live in RDP houses, and like find a full-time rooms, where they are any other citizens they are entitled to able to accommodate the high number free health care services provided for of residents they are serving. The by the government. municipality has given them the current In its inception, one of the challenges venue so as not to disadvantage those faced by this clinic was to find a suitable who need medical attention. venue where it could operate. The “ We are nothing without this clinic, newly built Thembisa Community Hall it is our last hope to free medical became its initial home. They operated treatment”, added Ms Fekisi. in the Community Hall from inception until recently where the need for a The clinic also has community health bigger gene arose. care workers who visit the patients who cannot go to the clinic facilities due to Currently, the clinic now operates in old age and critical illnesses. a municipality owned building in town where it is able to fit a big number of The future for this clinic definitely the residents. looks bright. Even though, there is a lot to be achieved, but with the Though in the beginning the clinic professional staff at the clinic, all is in was faced with attracting health care order. ■ professionals, they are currently running with a highly qualified staff that Left image: One of the 89 clinics built helps the clinic to fulfil its mandate. during the past 5 years.

Qunu Clinic delivering greater access to quality healthcare through technology

he power of cloud computing and need to have stable connectivity, as Taffordable Internet connectivity is well as ample capacity for storage and helping save lives in the rural Eastern analytics. Cape. Usually, the ability to access cloud Through a new app, medical staff services and the associated data costs at the Qunu Clinic, near Mthatha, are would make digital transformation like able to provide quality healthcare to a this difficult, especially for a public greater number of patients, in a more health organisation. affordable manner. Microsoft South Africa partnered with The app, developed by Phulukisa Internet service provider Brightwave Health Solutions, enables primary to bring WiFi - and with the recent healthcare workers to remotely manage publishing of TVWS regulation - TVWS patients. Health workers electronically based on broadband access, to various capture the medical information of areas across South Africa; including patients such as their weight, body the Eastern Cape, where the Qunu mass index, and blood pressure using Clinic is among the list of organisations Internet of things (IOT) sensors and benefiting from this partnership. store these medical Brightwave, in records in the cloud, “Through a new app, partnership with thanks to Microsoft’s medical staff at the Qunu Microsoft South Azure cloud platform. Africa, is bringing These metrics Clinic, near Mthatha, are able Internet connectivity feed into an algorithm to provide quality healthcare to to unserved and which alerts the underserved health workers of a greater number of patients, in communities, as abnormalities and part of its affordable enable them to a more affordable manner.” access initiative, more quickly and Airband. accurately triage and escalate serious The Airband programme seeks health conditions. to support, accelerate, and scale The use of the cloud also significantly innovative business developing reduces patients’ waiting time at technologies that enable local Qunu Clinic as their files are always communities to utilise cloud-based accessible, and no time will be lost services, as well as business models searching for physical files, or gathering that reduce the cost of Internet access information that has been lost. to help more people participate in the Another consequence of storing digital economy. this kind of data in the cloud is that it Fast and reliable Internet is essential will allow for continuity across different to unlocking the benefits of cloud clinics and different clinicians, since computing, like digital healthcare, online each clinic and specialist will not have education and precision agriculture. to open their own file on the patient. The partnership with Brightwave and Power of public cloud without Phulukisa Health Solutions shows powerful data bills the profound and positive impact technology can have on even a remote Eastern Cape residents enjoy some of the technologically advances equipments in some To make such a project a reality, you community. ■ health centres. 6 MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 2 - HEALTH SERVICES PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT INTENSIFYING INTEGRATED RESPONSE TO MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT TB hortly after opening the Nkqubela TB (MDR-TB) patients have been lost-to-follow-up, as workers will not be Through partnership with the Eastern STuberculosis (TB) Hospital’s new introduced to the two new drugs in the expected to leave work and go to health Cape AIDS Council, the government XDR-TB Unit, the Eastern Cape MDR TB regimen, Bedaquiline and facilities for treatment. is integrating TB in the workplace. Government began a process of Linezolid. More patients are targeted The Department is also using This strategy will assist to reduce relocating patients from the nearby for initiation in order to reduce drug GeneXpert Alerts from the National the number of patients that are lost- Fort Grey TB Hospital to Nkqubela TB resistant TB mortality. Health Laboratory Service to identify to-follow-up, as workers will not be Hospital. Part of increasing access to resistant patients. expected to leave work and go to health The Department has spent R14 MDR-TB services, 14 decentralised facilities for treatment. ■ million in upgrading the now state-of- sites for management of Multi Drug the-art, fully equipped Nkqubela TB Resistant patients were established Hospital. The newly upgraded hospital between 2014 and 2017 and these is now a single 320 bed facility for Multi are: Empilweni TB Hospital, Bisho Drug Resistant TB, Extremely Drug Hospital, , All Saints Resistant TB and Drug susceptible TB Hospital, Holy Cross hospital, St Albans patients. The new unit has a lounge Correctional Services, St Barnabas area fitted with mechanical ventilations Hospital, Mthatha Gateway Clinic, where patients can watch TV. , Duncan Village Nkqubela and Empilweni TB Hospital CHC, Osmond TB Hospital, Margery are examples of how provincial is taking Parks, Philani CHC in Queenstown the TB scourge seriously. and Hewu Hospital), and this is in line with the MDR-TB decentralisation At the 333 bed Empilweni TB framework . Hospital, services are free to pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as In 2017, the department introduced children under the age of six years old. the 9 months shortened regimen for Other citizens are charged according the treatment of Multi- Drug Resistant to a sliding scale depending on their TB, and this has had an impact on income. the increase in , MDR-TB treatment success rate from 50,9% in 2016 to More than 1.6 million clients five 73.8% as reported in 2nd quarter of years and older have been screened 2017. in facilities for TB symptoms. TB Treatment success rate stands at 83.6 Through partnership with the Eastern per cent. The government has set a Cape AIDS Council, the government target of testing the majority of citizens is integrating TB in the workplace. for TB by the end of the term of the 5th The Department of Health periodically administration. embarks on a TB screening programme, targeting correctional Farm and mine workers and those centres, the six mining districts, from informal settlements were the schools, creches and the community priority groups targeted by government. at large. This strategy will assist to The goverment has strengthened the use of the Stock Visibility System across Primary More than 500 Multi-Drug Resistant reduce the number of patients that are Health Care facilities and hospitals. EASTERN CAPE GOVERNMENT TACKLES FRAUDULENT CLAIMS OF NEGLIGENCE or years unscrupulous lawyers department R75 million in claims Fmilked the Eastern Cape’s Health because some of the questionable Department dry through bogus and lawyers withdrew cases when they fraudulent claims and the provincial realised they were under scrutiny. government faced R17 billion in legal In another fraudulent claim, claims for negligence in state hospitals. “spotters” working for a lawyer visited Now the Eastern Cape Provincial a family. They allegedly claimed to be government is saving money from working for the department of social alleged negligence after going to the development. They allegedly told a open market for a panel of medico-legal member of the family, who had just experts who had been assisting with returned from hospital, that they could the vigorous defence of medico-legal arrange a social grant for them. claims in court. They took all the documents they The department had not been needed and lodged a claim against satisfied with the level of success of the the health department, without the state attorney in defending medico-legal claimant’s knowledge. The claim got claims. paid and the claimant was not even Since the appointment of a new aware, despite millions being paid to consortium of lawyers, Norton Rose him. Fulbright and Smith Tabata, the In some cases, the claimants were department have saved R45m. In one unaware of the claims being lodged on instance, a summons for R14m in a their behalf. In others, they were aware, cerebral palsy case was successfully but were paid small amounts while the challenged on technical and legal lawyers took the bulk of their payout. grounds. The court ruled in favour Now the health department believes of the Health Department and also that the R17 billion will decrease ordered the plaintiff to pay its costs. The because forensic investigators have matter was subsequently withdrawn found some of the claims are too old and court costs were tendered. and they will apply for the courts to While there had been genuine dismiss them. cases of negligence that call for The lawyers involved in making compensation, there had also been fraudulent claims will face the music. deliberate attempts to defraud the state. The culprits have been identified and In one instance, five lawyers made cases have been opened with the claims using the same case. They Hawks. ■ The investment in ambulance buses has brought much needed relief to patient had already managed to save the transportation system, particularly emergency calls. MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 2 - HEALTH SERVICES 7 DR NCUMISA JILATA – AN EXAMPLE THAT KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Above: is one of the centres of healthcare centres providing healthcare for all in the Eastern Cape; Below: Dr Ncumisa Jilata.

one year, in addition to the subjects I had already selected from Grade 10,” she told Daily Dispatch. “During that period I discovered the concept of a neuron, which is amazing, and the fact that society as a whole is influenced and controlled solely by the existence of this structure, intrigued me. “That’s when I knew I wanted to be a neurosurgeon,” she told the paper. Dr Ncumisa is living proof that the youth represents the country’s future that is why we are investing in them to uplift the nation. In this connection, the province has spelled out development objectives anchored on focusing on the youth and assure their welfare and development through education and moulding them as the next generation of leaders for the country’s better and brighter future. Whatever we do, we express the hope that the youth of today will come into their own, give priority to education and modernity and use it as a tool for the development of the country, like Dr Jilita. Education is one of the priorities of provincial government, the others being health, crime, human settlements, rural development and the creation of decent jobs. The Umtata-born neurosurgeon is an example that education does not only benefit an individual, but rather empowers the community. Education is without a doubt a lever to uplift individuals, their families and society at large. Nowhere is this true than in our province and country where education should serve as a weapon against the scourge of poverty among our frica’s youngest neurosurgeon, Dr Ncumisa Jilata is from the Eastern Cape, people. Aconfirming that the sky is the limit. Dr Jilita is a living proof that when democracy and justice dawned in his country, “Education, actual learning--it is hard work. It’s very personal. Your parents there would be a need to create opportunities for quality education for all which don’t teach you anything. Your teachers don’t teach you anything. The government would lift the fortunes and well-being of South Africans, especially those from the doesn’t teach you anything. You read it. You don’t understand it; you read it poorest families and communities. again. You break a pencil and read it again,” said Dean Kamen, an inventor, an Education is vital to the future health of our nation’s economy. It gives our entrepreneur, and a tireless advocate for science and technology. children the building blocks for a successful financial future. It empowers 29-year old Dr Jilita is an example that everyone needs to recognise that consumers by giving them the knowledge and tools to improve their economic education is the foundation for success and if one does not have a good well-being. It is the best investment we can make to strengthen our nation’s education, you cannot have a good life. economy. It is people like her who reminds us day after day that education serves as the Indeed, knowledge is power. Education generates knowledge. It gives people bridge from our past to our future. Education is the foundation of opportunities and the tools to understand economic and financial issues and to interpret events that the key to a better life. will affect their futures. A fellow from the Council of Neurosurgeons of South Africa, following her In short, informed, well-educated populace make better decisions, increasing graduation from Glenridge Church in Durban, Dr Jilita completed her Bachelor their economic security and well-being. of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree at Walter Sisulu University’s Mthatha Most important, education is critical to building bridges between educators, Faculty of Health Sciences. businesses, and consumers. These bridges prepare our society to meet the “I was already in Grade 11 when I decided I want to be a doctor, but at the time challenges of an increasingly knowledge-based economy. ■ I wasn’t doing biology, so when I got to matric I had to do three years of biology in 8 MASIPHATHISANE ISSUE 2 - HEALTH SERVICES